My husband....the blogger

I just thought I would add a little note letting you all know that Kris is now blogging.
http://kiss-politics.blogspot.com
check it out.
His blog is based on many of the current issues facing our country, politics, religion, etc. He is very insightful and even though you may or may not agree with his points of view or opinions. Go ahead, pop on over and take a gander and leave a comment or two.
Enjoy
And sweetheart.... I love you. Thanks for your opinions and ideals for being able to put into words the thoughts I have been feeling as well. You are amazing. :)

Best Date Ever

I just got back from the best date ever!! What was it you ask? Well I will give you the details. Kris and I dropped of Caitlyn and her friend at our house at 4:30 pm, after 2 hours of watching two girls try on many many outfits. I must say I have a very patient husband who knew it meant the world to his (almost 15 year old) daughter to have him sit and watch her come out and model all sorts of outfits. And I must admit, she has amazing taste! (but more on that later)
So we dropped the girls off and then went to have Mongolian BBQ YUMMY!!!!



Now, this is where the date gets good. It has been WEEKS since I have had the opportunity to talk...just sit and talk....real adult conversation....talking....with my husband. And that is what we did. Our conversation was wonderful, filled with talk of goals, hopes, dreams, kids, work, and just the things of our hearts.
After dinner, we went to....hang on....wait for it....
WALMART!
I know...Can you think of a better place to go while we are out on our date? We looked at all manner of things....well, really we looked at a few things for Caitlyn's birthday, got a few groceries and then headed out again on our adventure. All the while, I got to hold his hand, look into his amazingly blue eyes and feel the warmth of his touch, which still,after 19 years, makes my heart flutter.

Next we went to "the mall"


Again, on our quest for caitlyn's birthday. One of my very favorite smells is the smell of Barnes and Noble Bookstore. We went into the mall through Barnes and Noble and just got to soak in the smells of this wonderful book store! We had such fun looking for things for her and for ourselves as well and the best thing? Again, it would have to be holding my sweethearts hand and seeing the sparkle in his eye.

Lastly, because it was getting late (it was 8:30) we headed to IHOP to share a banana cheesecake dessert.


We spent another hour talking, venting, and just enjoying each others company. So although this date was nothing the world would deem as grand or spectacular, it was the Best Date Ever because I just got to spend 5 uninterrupted hours with my best friend, my spouse, my eternal companion and it was splendid!
Thanks sweetheart for indulging my whims and spending your night with me!

Little Hand

Sometimes poetry hits me when I least expect it. Inspiration comes from many places. I was reading my friend Brittany's blog about her little Caleb starting Joy School and I was thinking of how fast they grow and change.
This little poem just took shape here on this page. Enjoy

Little hand I take in mine
So soft and through mine intertwined
Little fingers, little creases
Little wonders never ceases
Your tiny fingers wrap round mine
If but for a little time

Bigger hands hold mine tight
Crossing the street on the green light
Exploring the world so big and vast
A tree, a bug how long will it last
Holding tight to go here and there
You touch my cheek, my nose, my hair

I grasp your hand so big and warm
and hold it in my very own
One day your hand will guide me too
Just like mine used to do
What comfort your hands bring to me
I love you , my baby you will always be.

Do you ever find yourself wondering "what can I do?"

This morning I was searching through favorite blog sites that I have saved that have cute crafty things to make. I was asked yesterday if I could help out with our wards upcoming Super Saturday (did I mention I am VERY excited to participate in at Super Saturday?) and so I thought I would brainstorm for ideas. As I was going through the blogs this morning I found the blog of a former co worker who is going through brain cancer. She found out this past spring that she had a brain tumor and they did surgery in June. I was reading through her blog that is mainly being kept up by her husband. Reading their story really put things into perspective very quickly this morning. First to make me appreciate how GRATEFUL I am that I can do the tasks I need to everyday. I can do the laundry, I can do the dishes and I can brush the dogs and I can make the beds and do all the tasks of home. On top of that, I can wake at 5:30 AM and get breakfast for my kids as they get up for seminary, I can wake up refreshed and ready to go to church on Sunday. I can read my scriptures without headaches or struggles. My list could go on and on and on. As I read about some of the things her husband is going through, I cried. Her brain right now has lost its ability to filter comments. He talked about the fact that she brings up things from years ago that he did, or even now things he does that make her crazy from not matching the kids clothing correctly (in her perception) to things he shared with her in confidence as a husband about his own insecurities or faults or temptations and she is just spouting them off to anyone and everyone. But then I read about his love for her and how much he hoped things would get better soon. He talked about her dropping to 96 pounds, he talked about her platelets increasing which is a great thing. I can not imagine the stress on this young father and husband, trying to care for a very sick wife and 2 small children. I cried as I read about the generous time and energy of their friends and family who completed a successful fundraiser for them.
I found myself wondering "what can I do" I have had many people around me, including my own amazing, sweet, strong, beautiful sister, go through cancer. What can I do? How can we make an impact? Instead of being hooked on TV, or the internet, what can I do to contribute to someone Else's life??? So that is my quest right now, to figure out a way to meaningfully give back. If you have suggestions please let me know. If you want to jump on the band wagon with me let me know. In the meantime. I will let you know what I come up with. There has to be "Something I can do"

Playing Catch Up

Yep Yep, pretty much got slacker written all over me, right?
I was up in Utah the end of July and gave my new Nephew, Eric, a hard time about not keeping up on their blog....then I looked at ours.....hahaha!
So I guess I need to play catch up or post some amazing epiphany right?
Actually I have had a few of those lately.
Nick and Caitlyn started back to school on August 11th. Along with starting back to school, the also started back in Early Morning Seminary. I must admit, part of me misses not having seminary in our home each morning, but part of me is glad to have them in more of a classroom setting with more kids their ages. I get up and take them over and then have some time in the morning to wait while they are in class.
I decided while I waited that would be an AWESOME time to get my daily scripture study in and so I have been able to read in the scriptures more and to enjoy the insight they give me each day.
Last week, I was waiting in the car, Nick and Caitlyn had already gone in. I noticed kids driving in later and hurrying into the building, then I noticed two kids who had ridden bikes to seminary. They arrived about 15 min late and were clearly out of breath and I could almost feel that feeling from them of fatigue from riding, trying to get bike locks out and set up and knowing they needed to hurry into seminary. At that moment I had a thought enter my mind. I thought how nice would it be if someone was standing there saying "WAY TO GO....YOU MADE IT HERE" and I thought, isn't that part of our job? To encourage those around us to make it? No matter what the goal, to stand up and say "way to go..you are making it" "Way to go...you pushed harder today and succeeded"...."WAY TO GO...YOU MADE IT" How often as parents do we get caught up in our own agenda of only seeing the end goal and forgetting we are all figuring out a way to make it there. I know in my house, I get caught up in the "why didn't you get this done? mode instead of the "WAY TO GO...YOU MADE IT" mode. How often do I say to my kids... Thank you for all you accomplished today?
When I saw those kids make it to seminary, even though they had to ride, even though they were tired, even though they were late...they made it. Nothing else mattered at that moment...they arrived.
We can apply this to our lives as well. Keep our eye on the ultimate goal and then recognize our progress forward rather that berate ourselves for making a mistake or taking longer to get there. How much more progress would we make or would our kids make if the praise coming in was greater than the recognition of what we did NOT get done?
I found myself wanting to jump out of the car and go hug those two kids. I wanted to jump up and down and say "YOU MADE IT, YOU MADE IT....WAY TO GO"

San Francisco

On June 18th we became the proud parents of a new daughter....our French foreign exchange student, Clotilde. Clotilde is from Paris and she is 16 years old. She is very sweet, she is quiet and funny and very polite. We are enjoying having her in our home until July 9th. I am hoping that she is learning and having a good time with our family.
This opportunity came through the High School here. Nick came home and asked if we could host a student (in that same pleading often associated with "can we get a puppy, please") We thought it over and decided it would be a great experience. I am learning so much every day. Especially learning to create dialog each day. Sometimes I expect Clotilde to just speak up and start telling us things, but then I have to remember that she might not feel comfortable doing that, or might be nervous of her english language skills, which I might add are excellent, or that she just might be trying to find common ground as well. She is the middle child of 3, she has an older brother and a younger sister. She and caitlyn are getting along and for the most part, Caitlyn is doing a great job of including Clotilde. It is hard when you feel like you are the one who has to do the entertaining and such for 3 weeks. She is doing great. Both girls are! :)
Saturday we decided to take Clotilde and Nate into San Francisco. Clotilde has been before, but Nate has not. Kris thought it would be fun to climb up to Coit Tower. Let me just tell you, those hills are STEEP!!! Get ready calf muscles....but we all made it and the view was spectacular. We learned that the heir to the Ghiradelli Chocolate lived in a building right up at the top of the hill. We could see Alcatraz, the bay bridge, the city, etc
We walked from there to the Italian section to get pizza. Everyone got a personal pizza, I think Nick's was the most creative, his toppings were clams and olives. Nate had a chicken Parmesan sandwich and I think he enjoyed that. While we ate, we caught the last of the USA vs Ghana game and were saddened for their loss.
After pizza, we hiked down to pier 39 and then onto the Merritime museum. We boarded several different sailing vessels from a paddle boat to a steam tug boat to a tall sailing ship. It was interesting to learn about each of them. The sailing ship was my favorite! The kids even made a new pirate friend.
From there we hit Ghiardelli Square and some of the shops and museums and galleries near the pier.
All in all, it was a great day. Very windy, very cool but awesome!

This is a shot of Caitlyn, Clotilde, Nick and Nate at the top of the hill before the final ascent to Coit Tower


This crab picture was my fav. We parked and were walking down the side walk and saw these signs. We were in China town and I thought the signs meant 'no dumping crabs down the drain" No, they are just a friendly reminder that crabs live down stream, or down ocean, and to only dump water down the drains. No signs saying "watch out for crazy crabs running amuk through the city".....

GRADUATION!!!!!

It is truly amazing how fast time flies. Can it already be 18 years since my first born entered this world? 18 years ago Kris and I moved to Colorado, away from the comforts of family. Away on a new adventure in our life, with 3 month old Nate in tow. We learned a lot about being new parents and a LOT about the advice and council of our parents. We had entered a new realm with this new little life and found ourselves wondering what his life would hold for him.
18 years later, Nate has had his share of trials and tests, his share of ups and downs. His Senior year has been a test and trial in and of itself. What parents move their Senior all the way across the country before school starts? Well, that would be Nate's dorky parents....But through all of this, Nate has been amazing. He dove right into the school year and in true Nate fashion, let others see his unique and amazing perspective on life and the world as he sees it. He made friends and found another great core group of kids. I have been impressed as well, with the kids of Caribou, ME. They have been open, welcoming and very polite and gracious. I will say that it has been a great journey to live in a place where there is not a lot of worry about the kids, who they are and what they are up to. It is just the nature of this part of Maine.
As Nate goes on from this journey and ventures into the future, I wish him success, wisdom and the ability to see the whole picture around him. I wish him tolerance for others and enough insight to see what really matters. I hope at some point he will see and understand the great love his parents have for him, no matter how crazy the journey has been and most of all, I wish for him the ability to find his relationship with God. That he might know there is a divine plan in motion and that he has an important part in it.
Congrats Nate on an amazing graduation today. The Senior Class of Caribou High has class and style. Graduation started with an awesome processional in which the Seniors marched in perfect time up through the isle and to their seats. There we appropriate talks and awards. The Valedictorian, Emily, talked about finding their rainbows, despite the rain they may encounter. There was a great song done by the Senior Choir and an amazing musical number by the band. Each student that received a diploma did so with grace and poise. It was fun to watch them even after the commencement was over. No one was just crazy, they hugged, talked and took pictures. I cried a little as the mom, but held it together for the most part. The end of an era for my oldest.
You are no longer the little baby I used to hold in my arms, no longer the boy who loved his "crucks" and would fall asleep with a matchbox or hot wheels car in his little hands. You are my son, inquisitive, talented, smart.... and you are loved
Congrats Nate!

Graduation announcement


Nate and his friends
Nate with his friend Emilie. She was in our ward as well and in our Early Morning Seminary class.
Caribou High School Class of 2010 Class Motto:
Right before the Big Event!
At home with his newly acquired diploma